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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Singing the Song of the Free Range Reader

I can't
remember which of you loooovely bloggy peeps mentioned it, but someone referred
to reading what you want, when you want without obligation as "free
range" reading. I've been thinking about this particular term for a while
now, and I've decided I love it. I thrive as a free range reader.

As I've
been percolating on my reading, I've also begun to think a little about what
draws me to different books. And I'm thinking very specifically. It sort of
reminds me of my own proclivities in music. I'm a VERY eclectic listener. If
you were to romp through my Spotify playlist you would see the following and
MANY more: 30 Seconds to Mars, Bruce
Springsteen, Marc Cohn, Eurythmics, Florence + the Machine, Jake
Owen, Miranda Lambert, Aaron Copeland (classical), Samuel Barber
(classical), Jay Z, John Legend, Lauryn
Hill, Oasis, The Dixie Chicks.

I'm
attracted to different types of musics for varied reasons, some of them being
voice quality, instrumentation, lyrics, beat, a certain "mood" a song
evokes. Likewise, I like books for a deluge of reasons that appeal directly
to my mood. As I was looking at a list of books I've read over the last three
years or so, I could make some direct comparisons in the qualities I like in
music and the qualities that appeal to me in a gripping novel.

Miranda
Lambert is one of the best lyricists in country music. Her music and lyrics are
fresh and she has a decidedly quirky, lovely twang and vocal delivery. One of my
favorite songs of hers is "The House That Built Me."

I thought if I could touch this place or feel itThis
brokenness inside me might start healingOut here it's like I'm someone elseI
thought that maybe I could find myselfIf I could just come in, I swear I'll leaveWon't take nothing but
a memoryFrom the house that built me

In
comparison to my reading, there's a wonderful connection with Alice Hoffman's book The Red Garden.
There's the same sense of a warm, down home atmosphere and the creativity (in
plot and analogy) that I adore in Hoffman's writing sync up nicely with what I
admire in Miranda Lambert's lyrics.

There
are other books that I get sucked into because they have a relentless pace to
them. They're compelling from page one with a great story, good writing, and a
level of interest that I may not at first be able to explain, but that becomes
almost entrancing. A music/book pairing here would be Jay Z and Kanye West's "No
Church in the Wild" with Justin Cronin's The Passage. You may recognize this
song from the new Great Gatsby trailer. Without a
doubt, the most intense book I've read in the last few years is The
Passage. It's a great book with a winning combination of good writing, a
breakneck pace, and interesting characters. Likewise, I'm totally taken with
"No Church in the Wild." It's a driving beat, I love Jay Z and
Kanye's voices, and the lyrics are clever and edgy.

Drug dealer chic

I'm wondering
if a thug's prayers reach

Is Pious pious
cause God loves pious?

Socrates asked
whose bias do yall seek

All for Plato, screech

I'm out here balling, I know
yall hear my sneaks

Jesus was a carpenter, Yeezy
laid beats

Hova flowed the Holy Ghost

Get the hell up out your seats

Preach

Last, but certainly not lease -- I
fell in love with Florence + the Machine's"Breath of Life." This song is included on the Snow White and the Huntsman soundtrack, but
I think it also fits one of my favorite books of the year: Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I love the
song because it's atmospheric and almost "heavy" in the way
it can wrap me up (especially if I'm listening with headphones). Likewise, I
was completely taken with Wicked because
it's far darker, more political, and more intense than I'd ever expected.
Elphaba is a troubled character with a troubled past and she fights through a
great deal of political intrigue and hardship. The intensity, the beauty of the
lyrics, and the dark atmosphere seem a good fit for this song.

To get a dream of
life again
A little vision of the start at the end
But all the choirs in my head sang,
No oh oh

But I needed one more
touch
Another taste of heavenly rush
And I believe, I believe it
So oh oh oh

Who's side am I on?
Who's side am I?
Who's side am I on?
Who's side am I?

I’ve written a lot here lately about judgement in reading.
People judge others’ reading (and some people judge their own) choices based on genre, literary merit (or a
perceived lack). I’ve never once felt any need to justify my eclectic musical
choices, and I choose music based on a very basic need in the moment. Mood dictates all in my musical choices, and it's been great to let that same sort of basic need lead me in my reading. There's never been a time in my life that I agonized over the right music. Why agonize over book choices? Read what fits the need.

Becca, that's my take on it, too. I can't say I've been reading quickly lately because life has had a lot for me to do. BUT under normal circumstances I do read quicker, and I tend to avoid slumps better if I don't have a prescribed list of reading.

I like the term Free Range Reader (that would be a good title for a blog: The Free Range Readers. The theme song could be "Don't Fence Me In"). I am also a very eclectic music lover, although I have to admit I am a bit of a music snob. But if the music turns out to be good, I will happily amend my assumptions (Justin Timberlake and Kelly Clarkson).

I don't pay much attention to lyrics in music (unless I'm changing them). I'm more about the overall sound and mood.

I must confess, though, I never have been able to get into country music.

Heather seems to be able to pick musicians for me quite well. So far she's mentioned Adele and David Garrett in posts, and I've fallen in love with both of their music (how the heck are you supposed to say that, anyway?).

I love this idea of free-range reading. It's what I used to do before blogging. I really need to get back to it. I'm having a tough time picking up a book right now because the book I feel I need to read (self-imposed for a read-along) isn't the book I want to read.

I have very eclectic music taste as well. I still listen to what I like, but I have been teased for certain music choices by music snobs. I listen to what speaks to me, and I don't like people peeking on my iPod because I don't want to hear critiques of my choices. :)

I also listen to an eclectic mix of music, and if the mood strikes me, I will read all over the map. Most of the time, I am reading the book club books, or review copies, but when I get the itch to read something of my own choosing, it's like a breath of fresh air. This was an excellent post. I need to go back and listen to some of my favorite songs and see what book they would pair up with!

This is a fabulous post!! I'm the same as you that I need an eclectic mix in order to stay interested, but never equated my music with my books. I might need to start tracking that, I think it would be interesting to see the results and if a particular singer or song makes me think of a book or vice versa.

Can you believe the sequel to The Passage is right.around.the.corner. !!!! December!!

"Free range" reading. Ahhh. I love the feeling of reading whatever I want, whenever I want.

"Read What fits the Need"...AMEN! I love the connection you have made between your reading and music. I've never thought about this before but I should. My music tastes are very eclectic as well while I think my bookish tastes are less so. Hmmmm, I need to ponder that one.